By Michael Calderone, Jason Schwartz & Alex Isenstadt @ Politico.com, Jan. 6

[....] Breitbart's announcement came on the same day that Trump discussed comprehensive immigration reform at the White House and said he would attend the elite World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, later this month, and just weeks after he signed a bill cutting taxes for corporations and the wealthy — all moves that cut against Bannon’s nationalist, populist vision and show how his influence has waned since he was hailed as the mastermind behind Trump's 2016 victory [....]

“He was the operation. The content that you saw across the pages of Breitbart from the moment really that Andrew Breitbart died to the current day was molded in the image and voice of Steve Bannon,” said Kurt Bardella, who served as a spokesperson for the site from 2013-2016.

Even during the eight months Bannon served in the White House, Bardella said it was still clear his vision was driving the site — and its coverage was often seen as a proxy for his views.

“The problem is, Steve, despite all his flaws, had a clear vision and business acumen,” said Lee Stranahan, a former Breitbart News writer. “In politics, he’s probably done, but I’m not sure he cares.”

Both Bardella and Stranahan said the site found itself at a pivotal moment, with an uncertain future.

“I think Breitbart as a platform is now going to have to take on its own personality outside of Steve Bannon’s,” Bardella said. “What that will look like and how successful that will be is an unanswered question.”[....]